Meta to Acquire 49% Stake in Scale AI for $14.8 Billion: Report

 Meta Platforms is reportedly set to acquire a 49% ownership stake in artificial intelligence startup Scale AI, with the deal valued at approximately $14.8 billion, according to a report by The Information citing sources familiar with the matter.

Established in 2016, Scale AI specializes in delivering high-quality labeled datasets—an essential resource for training advanced AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Though the transaction is yet to be finalized, it is expected to yield significant returns for Scale AI’s stakeholders, including investors such as Accel, Index Ventures, Founders Fund, and Greenoaks, along with its current and former employees.

Neither Meta, Scale AI, nor the startup’s investors have issued public statements regarding the potential deal.

The report also indicates that Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang is likely to join Meta in a senior leadership role, heading a newly formed “superintelligence” lab. This move is seen as part of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s broader effort to accelerate the company’s AI development by bringing top-tier talent on board.

Meta has recently faced scrutiny over its performance in the AI space, especially after the Llama 4 model series released in April failed to meet expectations. Additionally, the launch of Meta's flagship “Behemoth” model was postponed over concerns related to its readiness, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The potential agreement with Scale AI may be structured to sidestep intensified regulatory oversight, particularly in light of the ongoing antitrust investigations concerning Meta’s past acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Scale AI was last valued at $13.8 billion in a funding round held in spring 2024. The company reportedly earned around $870 million in revenue last year and is projecting over $2 billion in revenue for 2025, with more than $900 million in cash reserves at the end of 2024.